The start of a trend. The start of a legacy. The start of an era.
Glen Coffee started it all. After years of tentative running backs with little impact on the game, Coffee got the start for Nick Saban in 2008, and brought a dogged determination and power with his running style that set a precedent for every Alabama running back since for the last eight years.
He ran through holes with unshakeable decisiveness and courage, and always fell forward for a couple of extra yards after contact. He mentored future Heisman trophy-winner, Mark Ingram, instilling that same mindset in him, who in turn passed it on to Trent Richardson to Eddie Lacy to T.